Buying or selling jewelry requires a lot of research and understanding to get what you want or what you need. It might be difficult to know where to begin your research, into buying and selling jewelry.
Clean all of your jewelry with a polishing cloth. This will allow your jewelry to shine without using chemicals. Use the two-sided cloth to polish your jewelry as if you were cleaning glass. First use the polishing side, and finish with the other side to make it shine.
Sterling Silver
If you are shopping for sterling silver jewelry, you’ll need a magnet and an eye for the real thing. Metals that aren’t precious will connect to the magnet, signaling that it is fake. Sterling silver should always bear a stamp that says Sterling, Ster. or .925. If the piece is not hallmarked in any way, be leery of its authenticity because oftentimes it is a sign of a fake.
Find out more about the gems you look at. Ask about where they came from and to which category they belong. Gems can be natural, imitation or synthetic. Imitation has little value, as it is generally plastic, while synthetic and natural are considered to be real gems. Natural stones are found in the earth and are mined out, while synthetic ones are grown in laboratories.
Jewelry should last for years to come. Get jewelry from a jeweler with a good reputation to be sure that it’s of high-quality. Any piece that is high quality will have its craftsmanship and quality shining through. A credible jeweler should offer a complete history of the piece, including information about the creator and the source of the gemstones. Unless you purchase jewelry that is of high-quality, the piece is not likely to last a lifetime.
Make sure a piece of jewelry is still in style before you buy it. Getting a nice piece of jewelry is good, but getting it at a discount is even better.
Costume Jewelry
When collecting costume jewelry, pay close attention to the condition of any piece you are considering. Costume jewelry is pricey and can retain its value in many cases, but pieces that are damaged aren’t worth much and aren’t worth the time to restore. Stick to pieces that are in good to excellent condition, as they are the best investments.
Do some research on the best way to clean your particular piece of jewelry. Every metal, setting, and stone has different requirements when it comes to care. What can be beneficial to one type of stone can actually cause harm to another. Ask a jeweler to make sure you know how to maintain your items.
Costume jewelry needs to be handled carefully. Many embellishments on costume jewelry are only secured with glue rather than set into the piece. Take care not to use chemicals or lots of water in an attempt to clean your costume jewelry. Wiping your jewelry off with with a slightly dampened cloth and then wiping it dry is usually sufficient to keep it clean. This will clean off any residue and make it look like new, without damaging it.
Before you buy a gemstone, it is important that you learn about the treatment process it underwent. Different care is required for different treatments. For example, you would not want to use a jewelry cleaner that is incompatible with a certain type of treatment. Doing so could result in irreversible damages to the color and surface of the stone.
Always keep an eye on sales when you’re looking to acquire some new jewelry pieces. The right sale will save you a lot of cash. Keep your eyes peeled for sales on the Internet, in the paper, and on storefront displays. Sometimes, buying fashions that are out of style can save you more than half of their original price.
Resist the common notion that size matters; concentrate instead on quality and clarity. Keep the individual you are buying the diamond for in mind.
Comparison shopping is vital to the diamond-buying process. No diamond is without its flaws, and every piece is unique. Some flaws are less noticeable than others and may not bother you. Also, each jeweler can price point a little bit differently based on the flaws. Make sure you browse different shops to locate the best diamond for the price range you have in mind.
Find some robe hooks and use those to keep all of your necklaces from getting tangled. Attach the hooks in accessible areas of your bedroom or closet, and drape necklaces across them in compatible groups. Not only is this a decorative touch to your intimate spaces, but it will protect the necklaces from being damaged by excessive contact with other pieces in a small box.
When buying jewelry, you should not buy something only because of the brand. You will often pay more for name brand jewelry, and it is unlikely that others will recognize the name associated with your new piece of jewelry unless you tell them. It is easy to find quality pieces from a variety of brands.
If you have a bracelet or necklace made of gold, it’s possible to get a bit of money out of it without selling the whole piece. If you feel they are a little too long, just trim them a bit and sell the scraps. Then you will still have your jewelry and a little extra cash. If it is real gold and you have a few chains, you can make a few hundred dollars by just shortening the pieces.
As has been outlined in this article, whether you are buying or selling an item of jewelry, it is important to do your homework and then put in the effort towards achieving your end goals. Whether that is to own a new piece, or to sell an old one for profit, the effort put in will equal what you get out. Keep all the tips fresh in your mind, and you will find success.
